Trump Revives Greenland Acquisition Ambitions President Donald Trump reiterated his intent to take control of Greenland, a semi‑autonomous Danish territory, framing it as part of a broader effort to counter Russia and China. The White House has not ruled out military options, prompting NATO members to question how the alliance would respond to a potential attack on a fellow member’s territory. Both outlets note that the rhetoric has intensified diplomatic friction within the alliance [1][2].

Denmark Warns NATO Could Collapse Over U.S. Action Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that if the United States attacked another NATO country, “everything stops,” including the alliance’s collective defense commitments. Her statement underscores the trust essential for Article 5 to function as a political guarantee among the 32 members. The warning appears in both reports, highlighting the seriousness of intra‑alliance disputes [1][2].

Alliance Cohesion Strained as Article 5 Faces Political Test NATO reiterates that Article 5 remains a political pledge rather than a binding legal obligation, requiring unanimous consensus to activate. The Greenland dispute and Denmark’s stark warning illustrate how external pressures and internal disagreements test that consensus. While Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte downplays a crisis, the tension reveals cracks in alliance unity [1].

U.S. Military Supremacy Remains Pillar of NATO Deterrence Analysts cite that NATO’s air, land, and naval capabilities would shrink dramatically without U.S. forces, citing IISS estimates of combat aircraft, tanks, and carriers. The United States also provides the bulk of NATO’s nuclear deterrent, creating a capability gap that other members cannot fill alone. This dependence explains why any U.S. move against a member threatens the alliance’s overall security posture [2].